Furball Decals FD48-054: Growler Anthology Pt.2

After over four decades of Naval service, the EA-6 Prowler has been replaced in total on aircraft carriers by the EA-18G Growler, making the decks even more infested with Hornets. Just to note that the service that saw the introduction of the EA-6A will still be flying the EA-6B for the forseeable future. This sheet of Growlers is undoubtedly the most complete that has ever been done and covers eight USN squadrons and an RAAF unit with sixteen options. Not surprisingly, most of these are CAG birds with some of them being quite colorful and others are more subdued. A couple of line birds are thrown into the mix as well.

All of these planes are in the current Tactical Paint Scheme of FS 36320 over 36375, two shades that are so close to each other that they often appear the same color. There is no recommended kit, but I'm sure just about everyone will use the Hasegawa offering for this one. The set has enough stencils and data markings for two complete models. As always, you can do more options simply by using the kit markings for these.

Here is what's on the sheet, starting from the left and working down the page.I should mention that most of these are from 2015 or 2016 and will only note when they are not.

First are three planes from VAQ-129 based at Whidbey Island. This unit used to be the RAG for the Prowler and I am assuming the same goes for the Growler due to the NJ tail code. The first is the CAG bird with a lot of color on the fin and a neat nose art. Then we have a standard bird with black markings and a color unit badge on the fin , followed by an even more subdued line bird.

Next are a pair of VAQ-130 'Zapper' planes. One being the CAG bird from the Eisenhower and the other the CO's plane from the USS Truman the year before. As a note, your editor's first squadron was VAQ-130, but that was when they had Skywarriors.

The CAG bird from VAQ-131 is a bit more subdued than most with an overall FS 35237 spine and fin aboard the USS Bush.

The most colorful of the lot is the first of two VAQ-132 planes from February of 2012. By October, it had lost all its bright colors but still kept some of the red stencils.

VAQ-133 is in the first set, so the next unit is VAQ-134. This CAG bird has lots of red markings and a nice colorful fin marking.

Back in the 'whale' days, VAQ-135 had the coolest markings. Not so much  today, but they are reminiscent of those of old.

Aboard the USS Reagan is a rather dull CAG bird from VAQ-136.

Two options for VAQ-136 include a CAG bird with some color and a regular line bird in greys.

From 2010 is a VAQ-138 CAG bird with black rudder cowling surround with yellow trim.

VAQ-139, 140 and 141 are also in the other set so next we have VAQ-142 as the next CAG bird with more than the uual color from its cruise on the USS Nimitz.

Finally, our one non-US option, that being from 6 squadron RAAF. This one appears to be their first airplane and is based at Whidbey Island, undoubtedly for training purposes. If you recall 6 squadron used to fly F-111Cs.

The instructions are superb with full data and stencil placement information. All of the upper wing markings are clearly shown as are the upper fuselages for those with special paint markings. There is an inside tail view for those that need it as well. Included on the sheet are jammer pod and ejection seat decals as well. Decals themselves are superbly printed by Cartograf.

If you are a builder of modern NAVAIR in particular and modern jets in general, you'll want to pick this one up. I hope to see it in 1/72 sometime in the future.

June 2016

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